Shillong, Oct 13: The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday gave time to 19 advocates facing criminal contempt for calling an indefinite abstention from court work to file affidavits tendering unconditional apology.
Pursuant to order dated October 8, 2026 issuing notice under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 read with Article 215 of the Constitution, all the said advocates were personally present, except advocates at serial numbers 13 and 15 (vi), a Division Bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice HS Thangkhiew noted.
“They all seek time to file their respective affidavits tendering an unconditional apology and assuring not to repeat the same again. Time granted. Stand over to 14th October, 2026,” the Bench said.
The Court had on October 8 registered suo motu PIL No. 21/2026 and held as illegal the indefinite abstention called by the Shillong Bar Association and High Court Bar Association from October 1 seeking removal of the Advocate General.
The Bench had then issued notices to 21 office bearers — 14 from High Court Bar Association and 7 from Shillong Bar Association — to show cause why criminal contempt should not be initiated and directed them to remain personally present on October 13.
Those facing contempt include High Court Bar Association President K S Kynjing, Vice Presidents N Syngkon and Pyllang Nongbri, Secretary General Kishore Ch Gautam, Secretaries Andrew R Passah and Arnold G Momin, Treasurer Sujit Dey, executive members Apu Dey, Andrew M Sangma, Cherak C T Sangma, Jonathan M Thangkhiew, H L Shangreiso, Melvbin M Laitmon, Raymond K Majaw and Rosylia Kharshiing, and Shillong Bar Association President H R Nath, Vice President Nelson Kharnarbi, Secretary Teiborlang Jyrwa, Assistant Secretaries N Shyambor Singh Marpan and Nurina N Lyngdoh, Treasurer Ilawanda S Lyngdoh and executive members Kishore Ch Gautam, Ricky Nelson Marbaniang, Jonathan M Dkhar, Jyoti K Marak, Krishna Sharma and Stevie R Lyngdoh.
